Sandy Herd (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Sandy" Clark Herd (born 28 June 1902 in Torryburn
, Fife
) was a Scottish
professional footballer
.
A miner
by trade, Herd started his senior career with Dundee
, who he joined from junior
side Hearts of Beath, in 1923. He joined Dunfermline Athletic
a year later, helping them to win the Division Two
title in 1925-26
. He was signed by Hearts in 1927 in a £250 transfer deal, with Colin Dand moving to Dunfermline as part of the agreement.
Herd spent ten seasons with the Tynecastle
club, making 229 first team appearances in the process. Initially selected as a Fullback, he switched to the Left Half position when Andy Anderson joined the club in 1929, and established himself in the latter role. His half-back combination with Alex Massie
and John Johnstone proved both durable and successful for Hearts, the trio proving a constant part of the side between 1930 and 1935, and eventually all three would gain selection for the Scottish national team
. Herd's one cap was earned against Ireland
in 1935, while he also made one appearance for the Scottish Football League
representative side, against the (English) Football League in 1934.
In 1936, Herd was awarded a joint testimonial match, alongside Northern Irish
centre half Willie Reid. Chelsea
provided the opposition and Andy Black
scored Hearts' goal in a 1-1 draw in front of 8,500 spectators. By now 34, Herd's career was considered to be drawing to a close and he was allowed to leave for Second Division East Fife
at the end of the 1936-37 season
.
Herd was to an enjoy an Indian summer
with the Methil
side though, and in his first season with East Fife they remarkably reached the final of the Scottish Cup
. Kilmarnock
were their opponents at Hampden Park
and the match was drawn 1-1 but Herd suffered an injury which would force him to miss the replay. His replacement John Harvey
, loaned from Hearts for the occasion, helped the Fifers to a 4-2 victory, making them the first club from the Second Division to win the trophy. Although he missed the decisive match, Herd had played in every game of East Fife's cup run up to that point, notably scoring twice in their quarter-final defeat of Raith Rovers
, and the club successfully petitioned the Scottish FA
to allow him to receive a winners medal.
Herd retired in 1939 and emigrated to Melbourne
, Australia
later that year. His younger brother Alec
maintained the family's representation in the professional footballing ranks, playing for Manchester City
and representing Scotland in several unofficial wartime internationals during World War II
. Herd's nephew, Alec's son David
, would also later represent Scotland.
Torryburn
Torryburn is a village in Scotland, lying on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. It is one of a number of old port communities that have existed on this coast and at one point even served as port for Dunfermline...
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
.
A miner
Miner
A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance....
by trade, Herd started his senior career with Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, who he joined from junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
side Hearts of Beath, in 1923. He joined Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
a year later, helping them to win the Division Two
Scottish Football League Second Division
The Scottish Football League Second Division is the second highest division of the Scottish Football League and the third highest overall in the Scottish football league system....
title in 1925-26
1925-26 in Scottish football
The 1925–26 season was the 36th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: CelticRelegated: Raith Rovers, Clydebank-Scottish League Division Two:...
. He was signed by Hearts in 1927 in a £250 transfer deal, with Colin Dand moving to Dunfermline as part of the agreement.
Herd spent ten seasons with the Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
club, making 229 first team appearances in the process. Initially selected as a Fullback, he switched to the Left Half position when Andy Anderson joined the club in 1929, and established himself in the latter role. His half-back combination with Alex Massie
Alex Massie
Alex C. Massie was a Scottish international footballer of the 1920s and 1930s, who played mainly as a right-half. He was born in Possilpark, Glasgow.-Player:...
and John Johnstone proved both durable and successful for Hearts, the trio proving a constant part of the side between 1930 and 1935, and eventually all three would gain selection for the Scottish national team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. Herd's one cap was earned against Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
in 1935, while he also made one appearance for the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
representative side, against the (English) Football League in 1934.
In 1936, Herd was awarded a joint testimonial match, alongside Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
centre half Willie Reid. Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
provided the opposition and Andy Black
Andy Black (footballer)
Andrew "Andy" Black is a Scottish former footballer, who played as an inside forward. He was born in Stirling....
scored Hearts' goal in a 1-1 draw in front of 8,500 spectators. By now 34, Herd's career was considered to be drawing to a close and he was allowed to leave for Second Division East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
at the end of the 1936-37 season
1936-37 in Scottish football
The 1936–37 season was the 47th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Dunfermline Athletic, Albion Rovers-Scottish League Division Two:...
.
Herd was to an enjoy an Indian summer
Indian summer
An Indian summer is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs in the autumn. It refers to a period of considerably above normal temperatures, accompanied by dry and hazy conditions, usually after there has been a killing frost...
with the Methil
Methil
Methil is an eastern coastal town in Scotland. It was part of the former Burgh of Buckhaven and Methil. It lies within a continuous urban area described as Levenmouth.Methil lies geographically between Largo bay to the east and Wemyss Bay to the west....
side though, and in his first season with East Fife they remarkably reached the final of the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
. Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
were their opponents at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
and the match was drawn 1-1 but Herd suffered an injury which would force him to miss the replay. His replacement John Harvey
John Harvey (footballer)
John Harvey was a Scottish footballer who played for Sunderland as a Midfielder.-Cub career:He made his debut for Sunderland on 18 January 1890 against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup first round, Sunderland lost the game 4–2 after extra time at Leamington Road...
, loaned from Hearts for the occasion, helped the Fifers to a 4-2 victory, making them the first club from the Second Division to win the trophy. Although he missed the decisive match, Herd had played in every game of East Fife's cup run up to that point, notably scoring twice in their quarter-final defeat of Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
, and the club successfully petitioned the Scottish FA
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
to allow him to receive a winners medal.
Herd retired in 1939 and emigrated to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
later that year. His younger brother Alec
Alec Herd
Alec Herd was a Scottish professional footballer. Born in Bowhill, Scotland, he played as a forward for Hamilton Academicals, Manchester City and Stockport County.-Early life:...
maintained the family's representation in the professional footballing ranks, playing for Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
and representing Scotland in several unofficial wartime internationals during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Herd's nephew, Alec's son David
David Herd (footballer)
David George Herd is a Scottish former international association footballer. His regular position was as a forward where he was a consistent goal scorer.-Family:...
, would also later represent Scotland.
External links
- Hearts Appearances at londonhearts.com
- Scotland Appearances at londonhearts.com
- Image at londonhearts.com